Ducks Head To Indoor Championships On The Hunt For More NCAA Hardware
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
A year ago, the Oregon women entered the final day of the NCAA Indoor Track And Field Championships in 14th place. The Ducks closed the meet with a stirring 4x400-meter win to capture their fifth straight national title.
In short, the UO women are used to pulling off surprises on the big stage. They intend to do so again this weekend, as do the Oregon men at the 2015 NCAA Indoor meet Friday and Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.
"Every year we face the same battle," UO junior Jenna Prandini said. "I think we're just as ready to go to war as any other year."
The host Razorbacks are favored on the women's side, where Oregon enters the meet ranked No. 6. The UO men are ranked No. 2, behind Florida.
As usual, though, the men and women of Oregon have national championship aspirations. They swept the NCAA Indoor team titles a year ago.
"Ever since I became head coach that's been the one, singular focus, no matter what," UO coach Robert Johnson said. "That's kind of how we're judged through our administration and the powers that be, is to win those championships. So we want to do everything we can to make those things happen.
"Is it championship or bust? I don't know if I'd go that far or not. But those are definitely the expectations we have, with our kids, with our program, with our community."
After qualifying 23 total entrants a year ago, the Ducks bring a school-record 25 to Arkansas this weekend. While it's a big group, it's also focused on a few events.
The Oregon men matched the NCAA record by qualifying five runners into one event, the 3,000 meters. Sophomore Edward Cheserek is one of the five, though his participation will be contingent on the Ducks' standing in the team race entering the 3,000, the penultimate event of Saturday's final session.
Cheserek is also entered in the mile and the distance medley relay, eschewing the 5,000 after sweeping the 3k and 5k at last year's indoor meet. "I'm trying to try something different this year," he said. "My focus is just to help the team win the title."
That means Cheserek will be ready to toe the line in the 3,000 if necessary. He'd join three other Ducks planning to double — Eric Jenkins, Parker Stinson and Will Geoghegan will do the 3k/5k double — along with Jeramy Elkaim.
For as long as possible, the teammates and training partners would like to run together in the 3,000. "If we have a good day, we'll go one-two-three-four-five," Cheserek said.
At some point, though, they may have to separate. "Deep down inside they're all competitors and us as coaches never want to take that away," Johnson said. "So at some point in time, all the coaching will go out the window and it'll be all about that ticker that ticks in your chest — you'll show a little heart and see if you can get to the finish line first."
The UO men's distance crew, which also includes Daniel Winn and Johnny Gregorek in the mile, will be joined by weight thrower Greg Skipper this weekend. The women's contingent is slightly more balanced.
For the Oregon women to make it six straight titles, the likes of milers Nikki Hiltz and Katie Porada, high jumper Lauren Crockett and shot putter Brittany Mann will try to outdo their ranking among qualifiers in their respective events.
And the Ducks will need leadership from a strong contingent of sprinters led by Prandini and Jasmine Todd. Each qualified in the 60 and long jump, and Prandini will run the 200 as well. The Ducks will also look for points from Sasha Wallace in the 60 hurdles.
"I have three events, so I just have to take them event by event," Prandini said. "I'm one of the oldest on the team now, or the oldest. It's definitely more of a burden. I'll take more of the pressure, but I'm ready to take on that role."
Unlike last year, the Ducks can't let it come down to the 4x400; not qualifying for the event on either side "stings a little bit," Johnson said. But with 25 entrants, "we've got a bunch of bullets in the gun, opportunities to go out and score points," he said.
"There is no such thing as repeat," Johnson added. "It'll be a whole different experience trying to go and win those titles. We'll use the experience from years past to help us prepare for the ebbs and flows of the meet, the ups and downs. We'll be fortunate because we've competed at that meet at a high level for a long time."
